Minimum constrast estimation with applications to array processing

Numerous studies have been devoted to performance analysis of direction of arrival (DOA) estimators in the context of narrow-band array processing. This contribution shows that the versatile concept of minimum contrast estimation provides a common unifying framework (i) to derive general conditions guaranteeing consistency and asymptotic normality of the estimators, (ii) to obtain closed form expressions for the asymptotic covariance of these estimators, and (iii) to develop practical numerical implementation of the estimators. The basic principles of minimum contrast estimation are reviewed. For brevity, the relevant results are stated without proof. These concepts are applied in the narrow-band array context. An application of this methodology is provided.<>